SPRINGFIELD — A bill aimed at keeping children safer on their way to and from school is one step closer to becoming a law in Ohio.
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Ohio’s School Bus Safety Act cleared an important hurdle on Tuesday at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus. The bill passed out of the House Committee.
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Republican State Representative Bernie Willis from Clark County is the bill’s sponsor. It has broad bipartisan support and now has a Democratic joint sponsor.
“It has a really good path right now,” Willis (R-Springfield) said. “All things look very positive and we’re really happy to keep it moving forward.”
The bill would set aside $25 million to fund a needs-based grant program. Districts could apply for grants as they see fit and use the money to pay for school bus safety features and advanced bus driver training.
The legislation would also create stiffer penalties for drivers who illegally pass school buses while they’re loading or unloading children. It would also increase minimum fines for that same offense.
News Center 7′s John Bedell spoke to grandparents and parents on Wednesday about the bill and the money it could provide districts.
“We should do whatever we can do for the safety of our kids. So, I think it’s important for them to get that and to use it in whichever way, you know, would best suit the children,” Christine Brown said.
As reported on News Center 7 at 5:00, state lawmakers said the goal is to get this bill to Gov. Mike DeWine’s desk next month. The governor’s signature would officially set aside the first $25 million to fund the grant program.
Lawmakers will look to add money to that pot with Ohio’s next transportation budget in the spring and the state’s next two-year budget in the summer.
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